New £2.5m health centre for Heanor progressing strongly

Health bosses are making strong progress on the new £2.5m health centre that was agreed at the NHS Southern Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group Governing Body on 24 October.

Funding for the new building has been made available from the new financial year which starts on 1 April 2015. Environmental surveys have already been completed in preparation for the new building which include Land Survey and Ecology Surveys.

Capita Property and Infrastructure has been appointed as the building surveyor to provide expert advice on the construction of the new building. Capita Property and Infrastructure is one of the largest surveyors in the UK. A building contractor will be appointed later in 2015 following a competitive tender process.

All of the scrap metal has now been removed from the Memorial Hospital building and the demolition will start from April 2015.

The new centre will provide services that meet the health requirements of the population. This building will include all existing services with the exception of inpatient beds along with a range of new services which are required to support the health of local people.

NHS Southern Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group launched a 90 day consultation on 11 July following the discovery of asbestos at Heanor Memorial Hospital in September 2013. However, the CCG needed to look at the role of other health services as part of its wider responsibility for the health of all residents in the area. These include services based at Wilmot Street Health Centre, those provided in the wider community and those provided in people’s homes.

The Governing Body reviewed the outcome of the 90 day consultation on Heanor health services and accepted the recommendation to proceed with the option that had overwhelming support from local people.

Andy Layzell, Chief Officer at NHS Southern Derbyshire CCG, said:

“We are progressing as swiftly as we can on this project so we can ensure that the people of Heanor and surrounding areas benefit from a new health facility from 2017.

“We are delighted to report that the funding is now in place and Derbyshire Community Health Services is already making strong progress on a developed demolition and construction plan.

“We will be working with local people to make sure the design of the new building is both fitting for the town and practical in allowing services to stay flexible in the future.”